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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

March 10, 2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

March 10, 2015 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter    © Kim Willis

Hello Gardeners

Tuberose
Spring finally seems to be arriving.  Keep your fingers crossed that no big storms or cold snaps pop up in the next couple months.  I can actually see grass in a few places, although the snow is still deep in others. The outside birds are singing.  The mud is getting deep.  Smell that fresh south wind.  Ah, spring!

I saw two Bald Eagles this weekend one a ½ mile up the road and the other flying around my pond. They’re interesting- but I have 2 ducks missing this morning so I may not want to see them around.  I think I would rather see turkey vultures or orioles, because I know when I see them that summer is close.

One of the nurseries I ordered from has informed me that it’s the right time to ship my order and I’ll get it this week.  The order includes an apple tree and another tree as well as several perennials.  I guess I will be putting them in pots for a couple weeks as I don’t think the ground is ready just yet.  The road commission says the frost goes 5 feet into the ground this year and it’s going to take some time for that to soil to thaw.

Winter damage to landscape plants

Both MSU horticulturists and a host of other horticulturists around the Midwest are predicting that this winter’s long, extremely cold period will probably cause a lot of damage and death in landscape and fruit plants.  Last winter was hard and caused considerable damage and this winter’s artic cold was stronger and longer. 

It’s hard to imagine that back in January I was talking about less damage to landscape plants from deer and rabbits than last year because winter was milder.  Then came February, and peace was over.  Everywhere people are telling me how much damage has been done by animals to their plants this year.  I have a huge Euonymus in my yard, 15 feet wide by 10 feet high.  Landscape professionals have admired it.  It was beautiful. But now the bottom of the bush to about 4-5 feet off the ground has been eaten by deer. It’s the first time they have ever touched it. Deer have eaten one side of my arborvitae hedge by the road and have even eaten the lower branches of a Scotch pine.  And that’s only the damage I can see without wading into deep snow.  I dread what I will find as I inspect later this week after the snow melt.

Between cold damage and animal damage it’s likely to be a disappointing spring for many gardeners.  Be prepared to replace a number of landscape or fruiting plants.  We won’t know the extent of the damage until later in the spring but expect it to be rough.  When you replace plants make sure to plant hardier varieties of your favorites or replace those zone 6 plants with hardier species.  These two winters may be a fluke – but many scientists are predicting that the weather pattern may have shifted and next winter may not be better. That’s sad, because at one point we were told that we would gain a plant zone of hardiness with this global warming and some areas have- like Alaska. 
Dead holly after last winter.

As the weather warms look for plants that don’t leaf out- but do give them a little extra time.  Wait to prune fruit trees and other plants this year to see how much pruning nature has done.  Prune off dead wood after the weather has become warm and stable.  Any plants that had lots of damage last year may be totally dead this spring. Fruit trees and early flowering ornamental plants may not bloom this year. 

When plants do start leafing out it will be a good spring to fertilize landscape plants that you may never have fertilized before, especially if they have a lot of damage to repair. And make sure to keep them watered if it’s dry. On the other hand if water is pooling around landscape plants from snow melt and spring rain make sure to do something to drain the water away.

The weather we have for the rest of the spring may be the key to life or death for many plants.  Let’s hope we have a steady warm-up with no sudden drastic cold plunges for the rest of spring.  At this time of year when the warmth of the sun and the length of the days are telling plants to wake up, really cold snaps do more damage than earlier ones.  And let’s hope the weather forecasters are wrong and next winter will be nicer.

Healthy foods
Here’s news from the world of healthy foods.  A new study presented at The Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego, California last week found that onions help lower blood sugar and blood cholesterol in animals.  Past research has suggested this also occurs in humans and researchers say that adding lots of onions to your diet is probably helpful to those with high blood sugar and cholesterol.

Researchers at Vanderbilt University and the Shanghai Cancer Institute presented the findings of a new study March 2 in the publication JAMA Internal Medicine, that show that those who eat nuts, both peanuts and tree nuts regularly, are less likely to die of any cause than those that don’t eat nuts.  (Of course everyone dies, it’s just that you die faster if you don’t eat nuts.) In particular cardio vascular health was better in those that ate nuts. 

This study was the first to include blacks, whites and Asians as well as men and women and nuts improved the health of all groups.  As little as one handful of nuts a day is helpful.  Peanut and other nut butters were also found to be helpful.

What’s not healthy- soy
 More and more evidence is piling up against including soy, particularly soy oil, in our diets. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside and UC Davis presented evidence at Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego last week that a new GM soybean that was supposed to be safer for people is only marginally so.  The new GM soy did not raise insulin resistance in animal studies, but the animals still gained weight, got fatty livers and had more health problems than a control group fed coconut oil, a saturated oil. 

Soy oil (and other soy products) are suspected of causing diabetes, obesity, fatty liver and an increased risk of various cancers in both humans and animals.  It is believed that the high content of linoleic acid in soy oil is the culprit.  The new GM soy oil had less linoleic acid but researchers conclude that soy oil is still not healthy because unusual obesity and liver problems still occurred after animals consumed the new oil. Other components of soy oil probably contribute to soy’s unhealthy effects and any amount of linoleic acid may be too much. Despite many studies saying that soybean oil is bad for human health soy oil remains on grocery shelves and is found in just about every prepared food imaginable.

Why should we continue to try and genetically modify soybeans when so many other, safer oils and protein sources exist?  The new nutrition science is saying that the healthiest oils for humans to consume are olive, coconut, and palm and that lard and butter are healthier for you than many other vegetable oils.  Soybeans and their products were pushed on Americans decades ago and we are reaping the horrific effects of them now.  Let’s just ban soy in animal and human food.

Tall Perennials for the garden

Even though many gardens are small, there are times when only a tall and stately perennial will do the trick in the perennial garden.  When island beds are suspended in space and when tall fences back perennial borders something tall is need to balance the bed.  Tall perennials bring visual “order” to the garden. Many of the tall perennials are grown more for their vertical form and foliage than for their flowers, but some tall and stately perennials are also beautiful in bloom.

Astilbe can provide moderate height in gardens.
When searching for the true queens of the garden one may need to look for older varieties. In the quest for low maintenance gardens the trend has been away from any plant that needs to be staked or supported every year.  Tall varieties of perennials have been bred so they are now shorter, more compact and don’t require support.  These may still be tall enough to give vertical accent to smaller beds.  However to achieve the right balance you may need to grow plants that will require some support.

Defining tall
There are many perennials that reach heights of two to three feet, especially if older varieties are selected.  But to truly make a vertical accent a perennial needs to be taller than three foot. 

In many species of plants there are varieties that reach different heights.  The trend today is to breed plants that are more compact. If you want height don’t assume a certain plant will be tall.  Check the label or description to be sure. All most all catalogs and plant tags will list a plants mature height.

The height of plants can also be determined by growing conditions.  Some tall plants need full sun to grow their tallest but for others full sun would make them shorter and more compact.  Some need a warm, moist, long summer to reach their ultimate height. Soil fertility can  also determine height.  In general, the more fertile the soil, the larger a plant will grow.

Tall perennials for shade
 Some astilbes can grow quite tall in moist shade and their early summer flowers are a bonus.  The leaves are fern-like.  Astilbe taquetti, (upright plumes), and Astilbe thunbergii, (arching sprays), are more likely to have tall cultivars.  Aruncus or Goats Beard is similar to astilbe but the leaves are a bit coarser.  It has white plume-like flowers in early summer.  It likes moist soil also.

Cimicifugia or Snakeroot is a true tall and stately perennial.  Most garden varieties have dark purple-black foliage and fragrant spikes of pink or white flowers in summer.  They can grow four to five feet tall.

Thalictrum or Meadow Rue will grow in partial shade in the south but likes more sun in the north.  It has small leaves and lends an airy, light look to the perennial bed.  In early summer sprays of pinkish-purple flowers that are lightly fragrant will appear.

Also for partial shade or sun if kept moist, are the hardy hibiscuses.  These are for gardeners who love flashy flowers.  The plants are slow to begin growth in the spring but once it gets warm some varieties zoom up to four or five feet.  In late summer they are covered with dinner plate sized flowers in shades of pink, red, lavender and white.  There are dark foliaged varieties.

Ligularia will grow in partial shade or full sun if kept moist.  It has large, toothed, heart shaped leaves with a purple underside and in summer spikes of small yellow flowers, ( L. stenocephala), ‘The Rocket’ or yellow daisy like flowers (L.dentata).

Tall perennials for sun
One of the best ways to get height in full sun where there is plenty of room is to plant ornamental grasses.  There are numerous varieties of Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum, Calamagrostis, Cortaderia and other grasses that reach truly impressive sizes.  They may take a few years to make large clumps.  Many these grasses have attractive flowering plumes and they lend winter interest to the garden also. 

Remember these grasses get tall and wide.  Check the zone requirements to see which varieties are hardy for your zone.  If you live in fire prone areas these grasses should not be planted close to the house.

For old fashioned splendor hollyhocks and delphiniums may provide the height you need. Every gardener with children should have a few hollyhocks so you can teach them how to make hollyhock dolls.  Hollyhocks come in a double form and many colors and bloom for a long period in the summer. Delphiniums bloom in early summer in a wide range of colors including true blue.
Old fashioned tall hollyhocks and Lady Bells.
 

Verbascum or mullein has rosettes of soft, fuzzy gray-green leaves and tall spikes of flowers in late summer. The variety ‘Caribbean Crush’ is a gorgeous blend of raspberry, orange and lemon colored blooms.

Many lilies are quite tall and are stunning when in bloom.  Lilies like to grow up through lower plants which keep their roots shaded.  Good companions at their feet are ferns and daylilies.  Some lilies will perform well in partial shade also.  Many are fragrant enough to perfume the whole yard.  Most lilies have large trumpet shaped blooms in mid to late summer.  Tall lilies include most Oriental lilies and Oriental hybrids, Lilium formosanum, Martagon lilies and Lilium lancifolium, which includes Tiger Lilies.

Other tall plants that may be hardy in warmer zones but need to be dug up and stored for winter in Michigan, include cannas, dahlias, and Alocasia or Elephant Ears.  Cannas have flowers but are usually grown for their huge leaves.  Many variegated foliage varieties are on the market.  Dahlias are grown for their flowers, which come in a wide variety of colors and forms.  Some also have attractive foliage. Make sure to select tall varieties.   Elephant ears are grown for their huge leaves.

For dry areas some tall plants to try are Agastache, Hesperaloe, and varieties of yucca.

A tall native plant that is good in butterfly or wildflower gardens is Eupatorium, or Joe Pye Weed which has clusters of tiny pinkish flowers in late summer.   It prefers moist sites but will adapt to average garden conditions.

For truly impressive size try the banana Musa basjoo.  It can be dug and wintered inside in Michigan, where it makes a decent houseplant.  There are other bananas which can be grown outside in the summer also.  Banana leaves tend to fray in the wind so choose a sheltered location.

Growing some tall perennials in your Michigan garden will create visual strength to your garden design.  They could be just what your garden is lacking.


Tea plants for pleasurable drinking

It seems that people have disliked the taste of plain water for almost as long as people have existed.  Archaeology supports the fact that almost all cultures used plant products to make drinks called tea or tisanes.  Did people first make teas for medicinal use and then found the taste pleasurable or did they make teas to make water taste better and find that some teas had health benefits?  We don’t know but we do know that teas that are just for pleasure have long been a part of human life. 

Teas had high esteem in cultures in many parts of the world.  The Asian cultures developed teas around the plant called Camellia sinensis.  This tea plant appeared in trade quite early and was brought to Europe where it has reigned supreme since.  But all around the world a host of plants have been used for teas, simply to make drinking water more pleasurable.

Native American women developed special teas like our grandmothers developed recipes for pies.  They carried dried plant products of their own special blends in little leather pouches, both for medicinal use and simply as a pleasurable drink.  They often kept secret the recipes of these teas.  A woman was often praised for the quality of the tea she could produce.  Different areas of this country produced different tea plants and some of these plants were traded between tribes of different areas.  Later on Native Americans also adapted their tea drinking to include “ English” tea and coffee and teas from garden plants the Europeans introduced.

Even coffee and hot chocolate can be called teas since they are concoctions of plant parts mixed with water. But this article is going to leave them out and concentrate on tea plants that the average gardener can grow or in some cases gather from the wild.  This article will also focus on tea plants for pleasure teas, some of these plants are also used in medicinal teas or mixed with medicinal teas to make them taste better.  Many medicinal plants make teas that are quite nasty tasting even if they are healing and those strictly medicinal tea plants won’t be covered here. The taste described here is subjective, each tea plant has its own taste and taste can vary as to how and where its grown, the water used and the other herbs in the mixture.

Tropical tea plants

Camellia sinensis  ( English or Chinese tea)

The source of both black and green “English” tea, can be grown in the garden  in the south, zone 8 and higher- but it if you are willing to fuss a bit over it this tea plant can also be grown in a container in colder areas.  It forms a small bush with pretty white flowers with golden stamens in the centers.   Container plants should be grown in full sun outside in the summer then moved to a cool but above freezing spot with bright light for the winter.  Camellia sinensis prefers sandy, acidic soil.   It goes dormant when it’s cool, although it keeps its leaves.  The plants need to be kept moist and in moderately humid ( 50-60%) conditions.

Leaves are gathered for drying when new leaves emerge in the spring.  There are several classifications of Camellia sinensis tea depending on when the leaves were picked and how they were handled.  White tea is very mild and has little caffeine.  To make it you pick the leaf buds of the plant before they unfurl and dry them quickly.  Green tea is made from the newest whole leaves, quickly dried.  Oolong and black teas are variations of leaves that have been allowed to wither after picking, which causes oxidation and increases caffeine content, and then they are crushed and lightly roasted before being dried and powdered.  If you are producing your own tea leaves make sure not to pick more than half of the leaves off the plant.  Keep it watered and fertilized with an acidic fertilizer after harvest.  Commercial tea blends add flavors from other plants or use special varieties of Camellia sinensis

Roselle, (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Roselle tea is made from the Jamaican Hibiscus,  .  You can grow this plant as a tropical annual much the way you grow tomatoes or peppers.  Start the plants inside about 2 months before the last frost. (You can buy seeds or small potted plants.)  Plant in full sun and keep well watered.  The plant forms a 3-4 feet high bush with small white, typical hibiscus type flowers in the leaf axils of the plant in late summer.  Each flower lasts a day.  As soon as the red seed pods or calyxes begin to form little plump bulges you pick and dry them.  Keeping them picked will keep the plant producing flowers until frost.  These calyxes produce a pleasant tasting ruby red tea.  The taste is said to be similar to cranberries.  The calyxes are also used to make a jelly and are high in pectin.

Garden tea plants

Agrimony ( Agrimonia eupatoria )
Agrimony
Credit:en.wikipedia.org
This weedy perennial plant is native to England and other parts of Europe.  It is also called cocklebur or Bur marigold for its bur like seed pods and beware, it will spread around.  It will grow almost anywhere in full sun to light shade.  It puts up a semi-woody stem each year that can be five feet tall. Leaves and stems are covered with fine white hairs. The leaves look somewhat like strawberry leaves, the flowers are small and yellow with 4 petals and produced in spikes.  It blooms much of the summer on and off.  The flowers are very attractive to bees and the plant gives off a pleasant spicy smell.  Agrimony has several herbal uses, including one for impotence and is thought to lower blood sugar.  The leaves and flowers can also be used in tea, and are said to taste like apricots.  It’s generally started from seeds.  Agrimony roots produce a yellow dye.

Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa )
Alfalfa leaves flowers and seeds are sometimes used in tea.  It’s a low growing legume with clover like leaves and purple flower spikes.  It’s a common hay crop. Alfalfa should be used cautiously as a tea plant because it is a pretty good diuretic and pregnant women should not use it because it may cause uterine contractions.  If you are on blood anti-coagulants you should also avoid alfalfa tea as the vitamin K in it can cause excessive bleeding.  It has a mild green or grassy flavor.

Anise ( Pimpinella anisum )
Anise is an annual plant native to the Mediterranean that grows 2-3 feet tall.  The leaves at the bottom of the plant are rounded with deeply cut edges, on top they are feathery like fennel or dill.  It has umbrella- like clusters of tiny white flowers that turn into brown seeds with a white stripe.  The flowers resemble carrot or Queen Ann’s Lace flowers. Plant anise like carrots, when the soil is warm, directly where it is to grow since it doesn’t transplant well.  It needs full sun and well drained fertile soil.  The feathery leaves and ground seeds are used in teas.  Anise has a sweet licorice taste.  Anise tea is often used for menstrual cramps.

Anise Hyssop ( Agastache foeniculum),
Anise hyssop is a North American native, widely used by Native Americans in teas.  It is a pretty garden plant, with several cultivated varieties on the market.  It’s very attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.  It grows up to 5 feet tall, with triangular, serrated edge leaves and spikes of purple flowers in summer.  It’s a short lived perennial that will reseed in the garden.  You can plant seeds or sometimes find small plants for sale.  It will grow in almost any soil in full sun or partial shade.  It may not bloom the first year but the leaves can be used for tea.

The leaves and flowers of anise hyssop can be dried or used fresh in tea.  The tea has a minty, slightly licorice taste.  Leaves can also be used in salad.  Don’t confuse Anise Hyssop with Anise or other varieties of hyssop.

Barberry- (Berberis Canadensis)-  American Barberry
This barberry is native to Eastern North America and should not be confused with the Japanese or European Barberries common in gardens, even though they may look similarly and may be found growing wild.  It’s a large woody perennial shrub up to 6 feet tall but usually about 3 feet in height.  Farmers have long been trying to eradicate this barberry because it is an alternate host for wheat rust and it may be hard to find plants.  In most places this plant is listed as endangered and should not be collected from the wild.  The native barberry was very important to Eastern North American native tribes and it’s a shame that it has been systemically destroyed. 

This barberry has small, narrow, blade shaped leaves that are lighter on the underside.  There are 3 thorns at each leaf node.  (Japanese Barberry has 1 thorn.)  The plant blooms in April and May with tiny yellowish flowers appearing in clusters along the stem.  The flowers turn into oval red berries that will persist long into winter if something doesn’t eat them.  Native Americans eagerly gathered these berries and dried them, sometimes pounding them into a paste first.  The berries are used for tea and have a pleasant tart taste.  Native American used the dried berries or paste as part of pemmican, a meat, fat, fruit mixture. The berries ware high in Vitamin C.  Indigenous people also used the inner bark and leaves of the plant for various medicinal teas.

If you can find a plant it prefers full sun to partial sun in well drained, slightly acidic soil.  It is thought to be hardy to zone 5.  It can be started from seed and also spreads by rhizomes.  In 2007 the University of Illinois issued a report on the plant and thought that remaining patches of American barberry may no longer carry the wheat rust fungus. 

Basil (Ocimum spp,)
There are dozens of varieties of this annual plant that has many culinary uses.  It’s an easily grown garden annual.  Grow in full sun after all frost has passed either directly in the garden or in a container. Both the leaves and flowers of basil can be used in teas either dried or fresh, although basil loses much of its flavor when dried.  Basil has a spicy taste and different varieties have slightly different tastes.

Bee balm, (Monarda spp.) – Oswego Tea, Bergamot
Bee Balm, Monarda
This is another Native American plant that was a widely used tea and medicinal plant long before Europeans arrived and turned it into a pretty garden plant with dozens of varieties.  It’s a perennial that will spread widely by rhizomes and seeds in the garden.  Both domestic and wild monarda’s can be used for tea.  The leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried.  The leaves are a source of thymol, a natural antiseptic.  Grow beebalm in full sun and keep it moist.  It will need to be divided every 3-4 years.

Monarda plants have coarse toothed leaves on plants about 3 feet high.  The flowers appear in a cluster of tiny tubular flowers in a wide variety of colors and are loved by bees and hummingbirds.  When the plant is disturbed or a leaf is crushed it emits a pleasant minty smell.  When used in tea the taste is somewhat like mint and oregano mixed, with maybe a hint of citrus. 

Borage ( Borage officianalis )
Borage is another plant that is pretty in the garden and that will attract bees.  It is a tall gangly annual plant with light green leaves and clusters of 5 petal, star shaped flowers of a beautiful true blue.  The flowers may turn pink as they age and white or pink flowers sometimes occur.  Borage is usually started from seeds although small plants are often sold and it may re-seed in the garden.  Plant after danger of frost is past and in full sun. Bees love borage. The leaves and flowers of borage are usually used fresh in tea and are said to have a cucumber like taste.  Leaves and flowers are also used in salads and other dishes.  Be a bit careful in how much borage you consume because the plant does contain some oils which can be toxic to the liver in larger quantities.
Borage

Calendula – (Calendula officinalis), pot marigold, English marigold
This pretty short lived perennial, (usually annual in Zone 6 and north) plant grows and flowers best in cool weather.  It can be seed sown very early in spring and again in late summer for fall flowers.  The seeds are curved with tiny spines on them. The plant will often re-seed in the garden. The plants are short, about a foot high, with blade shaped leaves.  The flowers are daisy- like with petals often having a shiny look. The most common colors are shades of yellow and orange, but other colors have been developed.  Double flowered varieties are also available.  The flowers are used for tea, and also in salads.  The taste is mild but it imparts a beautiful golden color to hot water.  The flowers also have an oil that is said to be anti-viral and antibiotic and calendula is used in several folk remedies.

Cannabis (Marijuana)
If it’s legal where you are, some nice dried cannabis leaves and flower buds make a very pleasurable tea.  Taste?  Who cares.

Catnip- (Nepeta cataria)
This common weed, sometimes garden herb, is often used in herbal teas to induce sleep or calmness.  However it does not have the most pleasant taste and you may not consider it a pleasurable drink.   Some people do like it though. Catnip is a straggly member of the mint family that can get to 4 feet tall.  It has rough, triangular, toothed leaves and spikes of purple flowers.  Leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried for tea.  Some cats go crazy for the plant and seem to be “high” after ingesting it, but others ignore it.  Another reason that it may be named Catnip is that when bruised it smells like cat piss.  The plant will grow almost anywhere and if added to the garden it will spread quickly.

Chamomile – annual- German chamomile (Matricaria recutita),  perennial- English, Chamaemelum nobile)
These two forms of chamomile are common garden herbs.  If you don’t want to grow them you can usually find chamomile tea in stores.  Grow chamomile in full sun, in well- drained soil.  Chamomile has ferny foliage and small white daisy shaped flowers with yellow centers.  The flowers are used for tea, either fresh or dried.  Chamomile tea has a mild pleasant taste and is often used to calm the nerves.   The tea is also used cooled to treat hemorrhoids.

While chamomile tea is widely available it can cause some bad drug interactions.  You should consult with a pharmacist or doctor before using it if you are taking antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, medications for anxiety or depression or blood thinners.  Pregnant woman and nursing mothers should also avoid chamomile tea.  If you are allergic to ragweed you may have an allergic reaction to chamomile.

Clover, Red ( Trifolium pratense )
This perennial plant with its 3 sectioned leaf and ball shaped pink-red flowers can often be found growing wild although  its native to Europe, Asia and Africa.   The flowers can be used fresh or dried for tea.  Red clover is also a favorite of bees.  Red clover gives tea a sweet, pleasant taste.  However like some other tea plants it should be used in moderation.  Because it has an estrogenic effect pregnant women should not use it, although menopausal symptoms are said to be eased by it.  People with any form of cancer should not use it.  In large amounts it can cause nausea and headache.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
This herb is called coriander when the seeds are eaten or cilantro when the leaves are eaten.  It is a member of the dill- fennel family and has the familiar white umbrels of tiny flowers but the leaves are broader than dill or fennel leaves.  It’s an annual plant that is planted after all danger of frost in a sunny location.

For tea you will want to use the seeds of coriander.  They can be dried and powdered or roasted and powdered for slightly different tastes in tea.  Coriander tastes warm and spicy.  Orange flavor seems to enhance the taste of coriander.  Beer is sometimes flavored with coriander.

Elderberry-  (Sambucus nigra)
Elderberries grow wild along rural roadsides.  You can also buy cultivated elderberry plants. They are a many stemmed, woody bush up to 10 feet tall. They prefer moist, fertile soil in full sun.  They have compound leaves with seven toothed leaflets.  Elderberries bloom in June and July with big, white, flat topped clusters of tiny, fragrant white flowers.  It is the flowers that are dried and used for tea.  Elderberry flower tea is sweet, and somewhat flowery, or fruity in taste.  It’s golden in color and high in caffeine.  It’s so pleasant that you can buy the tea in stores.  The flowers turn into red-black berries.  There is a controversy as to whether these berries are poisonous or not.  A drink is made from them and they are fermented into wine but you might want to try this very cautiously.   However no green parts or roots of the plant should be eaten as they are poisonous.

Evergreens- various
A number of evergreens were used for tea by Native Americans.  Generally the needles were either boiled green or dried and powdered for tea.  White pine, Balsam fir, and juniper were the common species used.  They have a piney, green taste.  The tea was high in vitamin C and was probably more medicinal that pleasurable.  Juniper berries were also dried and ground for tea.

Fruits and berries
Bramble plants such as raspberry have long been used for teas but other fruits and berries can be used for teas too.  Dried fruit seems to be best, the sugars and flavors are concentrated.  Some dried fruits can be powdered.   Good dried fruits for teas include cranberries, cherries, apricots, apples and blueberries, but try any fruits.  A splash of fruit juice can be added after the tea has steeped such as lemon, orange, mango, pineapple or cherry. 

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel leaves and seeds are used in several types of cuisine.  The seeds and leaves can also be used for tea, imparting a licorice, sweet taste.  Fennel is a perennial plant easily grown in the garden, but not reliably hardy in zone 5.   There are some ornamental varieties that are quite pretty, with ferny green or bronze leaves.  The flowers are yellow, tiny flat clusters at the top of the plant that turn into brown-gray seeds with a stripe very similar to coriander or carrot seeds.  The seeds are steeped whole for tea, sometimes roasted and ground or dried and ground.  Fennel tea was said to increase the flow of breast milk.

Horehound ( Marrubium vulgare )
Horehound is a perennial member of the mint family native to Europe.   It is easily grown in the garden although it spreads like other mints.  It has gray-green, rough looking,wrinkled, rounded leaves and clusters of tubular white flowers in the leaf axils.   Horehound has long been used as a medicinal tea, generally for coughs and chest congestion.  It was also used for menstrual cramps or to relieve gas.  Fresh leaves and flowers may be steeped for tea or leaves and flowers may be dried and powdered.  Horehound has a flavor hard to describe, it is pleasant and slightly sweet and often used to cover other flavors in medicine.  Horehound juice boiled with sugar until it hardened was once a popular candy.

Hyssop-Hyssop ( Hyssopus officinalis )
This plant shouldn’t be confused with Anise hyssop.  Hyssop is a perennial, semi- shrub that is hardy to zone 7.  It has narrow blade shaped leaves and clusters of blue, pink, or white flowers along the stems in the summer which are quite fragrant.  It can be grown as a pot plant and wintered inside in a cool sunny place.   Hyssop has a long history of being used as a medicinal and purifying herb.   For tea, the tender green tops and flowers are cut and dried or can be steeped fresh.   It has a minty, pleasant taste.

Lavender Vera ( Lavendula vera )
The flowers of common garden lavender are sometimes added to teas.  The taste is green or piney. 

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
This is another member of the mint family that is very easy to grow.  It will grow in almost any soil in sun or partial shade.  It’s perennial and will spread widely by seed.  It has oval, toothed, green wrinkled leaves and tiny white flowers.  There is a yellow leaved variety available.  Cut it back hard once each summer to keep it from flopping and looking ratty.   It has long been used as a pleasure tea plant and is thought be calming and relieve anxiety.  The leaves have a strong lemon smell when bruised.  Fresh leaves are generally steeped as tea, imparting a mild lemony taste.  Dried lemon balm loses much of its flavor.  The leaves can be used in salad, although it would be wise to pick small tender ones.  Bees are very fond of lemon balm also.

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla)
This is a great plant for tea or cooking, producing a very good lemon flavor.  It is a shrubby perennial but it’s only hardy to zone 7.  It can be grown as a pot plant and wintered in a cool sunny place inside.  It needs full sun and consistent moisture.  The spikes of small white flowers are very fragrant and just brushing the plant releases a lemon smell.   The lemon taste is best when fresh leaves
Lemon Verbena
are steeped as tea, but dried leaves can also be used.

Linden/basswood- (Tilia Americana)
This lovely hardwood tree native to Eastern North America has fragrant clusters of white blooms in late spring.   It grows well in the Midwest and Northeast but may take many years before flowering.  There are lindens native to Europe also.  Linden flower tea has long been used as a medicinal tea and packaged linden flower tea is found in stores.  The flowers can be dried or steeped fresh for tea.  Native Americans used the flower tea for fevers and its calming properties. Linden tea is light and floral tasting.  Bees love the flowers too.   Don’t overdo the linden flower tea however as reports of heart problems from over dosage have occurred. 

Mints- spearmint, peppermint, apple mint
There are literally hundreds of varieties and smells/tastes of mint.  Some mints are not as hardy as others so check the label before buying.  Leaves of mint and mint flowers can be used fresh or dried for teas.  There are a wide range of flavors; some persist better after drying than others so experiment.   Mints can spread widely in the garden and may hybridize also. 

New Jersey Tea- (Ceanothus americanus), Red Root
Both the leaves and root bark were used by Native Americans for herbal teas.  Red Root  is a woody  perennial hardy to zone 5 that gets 3-4 feet high.  It grows in full sun and well- drained soil.  It has an extensive, thick root system.  The leaves are thick and oval shaped with prominent veins.  The plant has bushy spikes of tiny white flowers in midsummer that are mildly fragrant and attract butterflies.  Leaves can be used fresh or dried for tea, and were widely used as an English tea replacement by early settlers.   Transplanting the plant can be tricky because of the root system, start with small plants.  The biggest problem with this plant is that deer are extremely fond of it and will graze it summer and winter.

Rose petals and hips
The petals of any rose that hasn’t been treated with pesticides can be used for tea as can the hips.  However roses that are fragrant produce the best tasting tea, with a floral, somewhat fruity taste.  Rose petals are usually used fresh, and steeped for tea.  Hips can be steeped fresh or dried and ground for tea.  Hips are high in vitamin C.

Raspberry and blackberry leaves, dried fruit
Native Americans collected the leaves and fruit of most brambles for tea.  The fruit was also dried for mixing with fat and meat.  The fruit gives a sweeter, fruity tasting tea, whether brewed from fresh fruit or dried.  Leaves are more often used for medicinal teas, although the taste is fairly pleasant. There is no caffeine.  You can buy raspberry leaf tea in most stores.   Raspberry and other bramble leaf teas were often used for “woman’s complaints” and often given during labor.

Sassafras- (Sassafras albidum)
Native Americans used both dried leaves and root bark of sassafras for tea.  Sassafras is a small tree native to Eastern North American with mitten shaped leaves and small blue oval drupes or seed capsules.  Leaves can be dried or used fresh. The powdered leaves have a pleasant spicy scent and flavor somewhat like cinnamon.  There are several folk remedies for sassafras tea but there are also potential problems if it is used frequently.  Cancer causing chemicals have been discovered in the plant and pregnant women should not use it as it can cause abortion.   A small amount in tea for flavor occasionally is probably safe for everyone else.

Sumac – Staghorn or Smooth sumac, (Rhus spp.)
The red, hairy, clusters of seeds that sumac produces in the fall were once a favored drink of Native Americans and early settlers.  Sumac is a shrub or small tree with compound leaves, and inconspicuous white flowers that turn into deep red clusters of seeds.  The plants are hardy and somewhat invasive but have pretty red fall color. The seeds are gathered in early fall and steeped in hot water for 15 minutes to produce a lemony tasting, tart drink.  Seeds can also be dried for making teas later.

English Thyme (Thymus vulgaris )
All types of thyme can be used in teas, but culinary thymes work best.  Leaves and stems can be steeped fresh or dried thyme can be used in tea.  Thyme is easily grown in most gardens and bees love the small flowers.  Different varieties of thyme have slightly different tastes but it’s a spicy note.

Preparing plants for tea
Make sure that no plant part you gather for tea has been sprayed with pesticides.  If you are going to use the plants fresh you should wash them under clean running water first.  There are various ways to dry plant parts for tea mixtures.  Food dehydrators, an oven set very low, or the sun can be used.  If you are drying fleshy plant parts like fruit make sure there is no mold growth on them before you store them for tea.  Store your dry tea mixtures in clean glass jars with tight lids in a dark place.  Make sure to label them!

You can store mixtures of plant parts or keep each plant separate.  When you experiment with mixtures measure and record what you do so you can replicate it.   Mix small amounts of tea ingredients until you know you like the taste. 

If you are going to use a fresh (green) plant part for tea you should crush or chop it a bit to help release essential oils.   Don’t boil water with herbs in it, rather boil the water and pour it over the herbs.  Then let it sit and steep for 10-15 minutes.  You may want to put the plant parts in a tea ball or piece of cheesecloth so they can be easily removed.  Otherwise you will need to pour the tea through a strainer to remove the pieces of plants.  There are small “diffuser” or tea machines on the market too.   You can reheat the tea briefly if it has cooled too much for your taste.  Don’t forget many teas can be delicious cold also.

Dried plant parts should also be put in a tea ball or cheesecloth bag.  Once again boil water first, and then add the dried plants and let it steep.  You’ll need to experiment with your tea mixtures but in general about 3 tablespoons of fresh herb or 1 tablespoon of dried herb are needed for each cup of water.  You can add sweeteners like sugar or honey if desired or even a bit of cream.  A squeeze of orange or lemon is great in tea.

Never make teas from plants that you cannot positively identify and know are safe to consume.  People have died from teas they made from plants they misidentified or that they didn’t believe were poisonous.  Even if you can eat parts of the plant, such as a tomato, don’t assume all parts are safe to eat or to make tea with.  If you used tomato leaves in tea for example, you could become very sick.  Try new teas cautiously to see if you have an allergic reaction before drinking several cups.  Remember that some plant parts may have medicinal effects even if they taste very pleasant.   Most often side effects of teas are a diuretic effect or diarrhea.  Some teas may make you drowsy so use care if you are going to be driving.  Others may make you nervous or jittery if they have caffeine. 

Is gardening your cup of tea?
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero

Events, classes and other offerings
Please let me know if there is any event or class that you would like to share with other gardeners.  These events are primarily in Michigan but if you are a reader from outside of Michigan and want to post an event I’ll be glad to do it.
Master Gardeners if you belong to an association that approves your hours please check with that association before assuming a class or work day will count as credit.

Do you have plants or seeds you would like to swap or share?  Post them here by emailing me. Kimwillis151@gmail.com

A new herb group is forming!  The Lapeer Herb Circle will meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Rebekah’s Health and Nutrition Store, 6 pm. at  588 S. Main, Lapeer ( next to Office Depot).  March’s topic will be herbs for bees.  They also have a facebook page you can join.

Attention Beekeepers!!! We are looking for individuals to participate with a state-wide apiary registry. We are currently developing the website/database for this project and we are looking for beekeepers who will come in on the ground floor of this project and help us get it launched. Not asking for any money, only your time and/or input. Please send us an e-mail if you are interested in helping the bees or want to know more.

In specific, we are looking for people with beekeeping experience to be board members for the organization, inspectors for different areas around Michigan and volunteers to help us get the word out at different clubs, festivals, etc. Please consider helping us and the bees too! Visit our website and let us know if you can help! www.MichiganApiaryRegistry.org

Here’s a link to all the spring programs being offered at Seven Ponds Nature center in Dryden, Michigan. http://www.sevenponds.org/education/progs/springprograms/

Woodland Treasures for the Shade Garden Fri, March 27, 10am, Meadow Brook Hall, Rochester, MI       
How to use shade plants to extend the flowering season. Sponsored by Meadow Brook Garden Club. $5.  MBHGCMembers@gmail.com.

Trees for Tomorrow: Planting & Maintaining Healthy Trees, beginning March 30, 6:30-8:30pm, Pleasant Ridge Community Center , Pleasant Ridge, MI
This is a 5 week series sponsored by SOCWA. The $40.  Fee includes a class reference book.  You must register by Feb 23rd  by calling  248-546-5818.

Wonderful World & Folklore of Cabbage, Thursday, March 12, 7pm, Kulick Community Ctr., Ferndale, MI
Sponsored by the Ferndale Garden Club and presented by Virginia Froehlich. Guests are welcome.  For more information call 248-398-6283.

7th Annual Growing Great Gardens, Sat, March 14, 8am-4pm, Wayne Co. Community College, 21000 Northline, Taylor, MI
         
Presented in partnership with the Taylor Garden Club, Taylor Conservatory Foundation and Wayne County Community College District, this garden seminar features 4 presentations, the latest in garden trends, door prizes, lunch, shopping & more.  Cost is $35 before Mar 2, $45 after.  Sign up for a bonus class with Janet Macunovich, “Lunch & Learn- Fine Pruning in the Landscape”, just $10 additional.  Registration Forms @taylorconservatory.org Or @taylorgardenclub.com or email pk48180@yahoo.com Or phone 313-715-8316

Great Lakes Region American Hosta Society / Hosta College 2015, Friday evening, March 20th  and Saturday March 21st , Upper Valley Career Center, 8811 Career Drive, Piqua, Ohio.

At this conference there is a rare plant auction starting at 6 pm Friday evening and on Saturday, beginning at 8 am participants will attend 5 classes from a list of 70 to choose from.  There is a big vendor’s area and a buffet luncheon is included.  In the evening there is a banquet.  Cost is $42 for members, $55 for non-members.

    
Backyard Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop Saturday morning, March 28, 2015 from 10am to 12:30pm, Greater Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C. , 6702 N. Dort Hwy, Flint, MI

Bob Tritten, MSUE District Fruit Educator will give an outdoor demonstration workshop at two community orchards. We will also visit the Uni-Corn Community Garden to cover pruning of older fruit trees. Participants will learn the basic methods of pruning young and bearing fruit trees. Pre-registration required by 3/25/15. Workshop to be held rain or shine (walking required)

Contact: Deb Hamilton at 810-244-8547 or email: hamiltod@anr.msu.edu Cost per person: $10.00 Make check payable to edible flint Mail to: MSU Extension, 605 N. Saginaw Street, Suite 1A, Flint, MI 48502.  Please include NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE # AND EMAIL ADDRESS.

Spring 2015 Symposium by the Master Gardeners of St. Clair County, Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Cornerstone Church, 4025 North Road, Clyde, MI 48049 - (Two miles west of Port Huron, MI)

Keynote speaker Sean Hogan Portland, OR. Cistus Nursery.  Class topics: Richard Bitner-  “Designing with Conifers”, Panayoti Kelaidis, “Rockgardens”,
 Susan Betz: “Magical Moons & Seasonal Circles”, Sean Hogan: “More Than Meets the Eye”.

Early bird registration: $80.00, includes all speakers, continental breakfast, lunch, and snack break. Late registration,(after February 20, 2015), $90.00. Make check payable to MGSCC (Master Gardeners of St. Clair County) Checks or money orders only, to be cashed upon arrival in the mail – no refunds can be made after February 20.

Mail registration to: Sandy Billings, 99 Richman Rd., St. Clair, MI 48079, call Sandy at (810) 367-3399; E-mail: sanderan51@yahoo.com or Lisa Sharrow at (810) 329-3722. More information and Registration forms are also online at www.mgoscc.org

The MSU Hort Club 2015 Spring Show and Plant Sale Saturday April 18th 2014, 9am-6pm and Sunday April 19th 2014, 10am- 4pm located in the head house of the Plant and Soil Sciences Building (PSS) at Michigan State University, 1600 Bogue St, East Lansing (located on the corner of Wilson and Bogue.)

No information is given about what the show entails or whether there is a fee to enter but if you want to see the list of plants they are selling you can go here.

There is parking in the 4H Children’s garden parking lot just south of the PSS bldg, in the vet med lot across Bogue and the Horticulture Department lot to the west of PSS. (*Note: locations are marked on the map with 'Parking') Be sure to read parking signs as parking tickets are common on MSU's campus. Please enter through either the south door of the head house or through the greenhouses.


MSU Horticulture Gardens’ Spring Program: Can You Dig It?, May 2, 2015 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Plant and Soil Sciences Building, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI
Sessions include: Woodland wonders from the wild, Art of Gardening, Joy of Propagation, Cultivating the recipe garden, lunch from Grand Traverse Pie Company included.  Rare plant sales.  Early registration (on or before April 21) for MSU Horticulture Garden Member $69 Early registration (on or before April 21) for non-MSU Horticulture Garden Member $79 Registrations received after April 21 $89
Contact: 517-353-0443, hgardens@msu.edu.

Gardening and All That Jazz – Innovation and Sustainability For Your Garden, Saturday, April 25, 2015 – 7 am – 4:15 pm, Oakland Schools Conference Center 2111 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford

Sessions include: Will Allen – Growing Power and the Good Food Revolution: A visual story of how Growing Power came to be and of Will Allen’s personal journey, the lives he has touched, and a grassroots movement that is changing the way our nation eats., Will Allen – How To Put “Growing Power” in Your Backyard: How to make your own compost bin, outdoor and indoor worm bins and raised beds. Matthew Benson – Growing Beautiful Food: Cultivating the Incredible, Edible Garden - Kerry Ann Mendez – Gardening Simpli­fied for Changing Lifestyle: Exceptional Plants and Design Solutions for Aging and Time-pressed Gardeners

Lunch and snacks included in cost.  Garden marketplace and jazz musicians. Early Bloomers Registration Fee: $70 After March 14, 2015 Fee: $80 Registration at the door is not available. Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 20, 2015  Registr by going to http://www.mgsoc.org/2015Conference_registration.pdf   For more info:  Nancy Strodl, Phone: 248-552-5095, E-mail: nancy_strodl@comcast.net

Horticultural Therapy: Connecting People and Plants-March 13, 2015 - March 14, 2015 Plant and Soil Sciences Building, 1066 Bogue St., East Lansing, MI 48824

The Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association is excited to present two events 36th Annual Conference ‒ Friday, March 13, 8:30 a.m. ‒ 4 p.m. and a workshop ‒ Saturday, March 14, 8:30 a.m. ‒ 12:30 p.m. in conjunction with Agriculture and Natural Resources Week at Michigan State University. Join us for presentations, networking, vendors, books sales and more as we learn more about using horticulture as therapy.

For complete program and registration information, go to www.michiganhta.org or contact Cathy Flinton at cathy@michiganhta.org.

Michigan Herb Associates Annual Conference- March 13, 2015 - March 14, 2015 Eppley Center and Business College Complex/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, MSU Campus, East Lansing MI.

The theme of the 28th annual Michigan Herb Associates (MHA) Conference is “Sensational Savory.” The Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Horticulture and Michigan Herb Associates sponsor the conference. The two-day MHA conference is filled with programs of interest to beginning and advanced herb gardeners and crafters who enjoy growing and using herbs as a hobby.

Lectures and demonstrations will take place at the Eppley Center and Business College Complex. A market of vendors will offer herbal plants and topiaries, herbal food-related items, decorative garden ornaments and jewelry, and many other gift items. MHA will have a small gift shop along with speaker book sales and signings. A live plant auction will take place Friday and Saturday.

Visit the MHA website at http://miherb.org/ to register online or download the registration form.

Organic Farming Intensives Initiative Classes March 12, 2015 - 9 am- 4 pm - Michigan State University, Brody Complex, East Lansing MI.
The Organic Farming Intensives Initiative will offer three to four all-day classes of single topics with a focus on organic farming. Possible topics include vegetable production, fruit tree management, soil health, transplants, pest management, farm-plan building and organic certification.

For more information, contact Vicki Morrone at sorrone@msu.edu or 517-282-3557. To learn more about the Organic Farming Exchange, visit http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/.

Michigan Beekeepers Association Spring Conference Friday, March 13, 2015 and Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Kellogg Center on the Michigan State University campus, East Lansing, Mi.

There will be break-out sessions on both days covering a wide range of topics that should be of interest for both the beginner and advanced beekeeper alike.  And, of course, the ever-popular vendor area will be back so that you can see all of the latest beekeeping equipment in one place.  Also, this year we will be expanding the vendors to include a “beekeeping” trade show.  The trade show will feature major manufacturers of beekeeping equipment and gear.  Here will be your opportunity to see what’s new in the beekeeping world and meet the folks who actually make your stuff!

Pre-registration is available on-line and we encourage all attendees to do so.  When you pre-register you get a discount too!  We encourage all conference attendees to pre-register.  If you pre-pay when you pre-register, your conference material will be available for immediate pick-up… no waiting in line.  For more information go to http://www.michiganbees.org/2015-spring-conference/

MSU Tollgate Maple Tapping and Pancake Celebration March 15, 2015-10 a.m. - 12 p.m. or 1 - 3 p.m. 28115 Meadowbrook Rd, Novi, MI,

Celebrate the Maple Tapping Season with Pancakes at MSU Tollgate! With a full-on pancake breakfast or lunch!

Identify and tap a maple tree, tour the sugar shack with ongoing evaporation, take a wagon ride, taste maple syrup, and tackle historical tools! Prior to the 2-hour program, enjoy a pancake celebration in the historic, 19th-century barn. Pancakes, coffee, cocoa, and of course, real maple syrup will be provided!

Eat your fill of yummy food and grab a cup of coffee 9 - 10 a.m. before your 2-hour program. Enjoy entertainment in the 19th century barn while you eat and relax.

Need to sleep in? Join us at 12 p.m. for a pancake lunch before heading out to the sugar bush at 1 p.m.

Cost is $12.00 per person. If cancellations are needed, please do so before March 11, 2015, to avoid cancellation fee of $5 per person registered.

The last day to register online is March 11, 2015.
Contact: tollgateprograms@anr.msu.edu or call Mandy Jacobs at 248-347-0269 ext. 238.  


MSU offered a variety of on line seminars for those who were interested in beginning farming topics of various types.  Some of those are now available free to watch at the address below.  Gardeners may be interested in topics like organic pest controlGet the list of topics and links here.


Newsletter information
If you would like to pass along a notice about an educational event or a volunteer opportunity please send me an email before Tuesday of each week and I will print it. Also if you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share, send it to me. Please state that you want to have the item published in my weekly notes. You must give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any individual. I am very open to ideas and opinions that don’t match mine but I do reserve the right to publish what I want.
Once again the opinions in this newsletter are mine and I do not represent any organization or business. I do not make any income from this newsletter. I write this because I love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails have them send their email address to me.  KimWillis151@gmail.com



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